Removable front for stapling machine



H. M. GREY, JR, ET AL 2,905,942

REMOVABLE FRONT FOR STAPLING MACHINE Sept. 29, 1959 Filed Nov. 15} 19562 Sheets-Sheet l 3 R R E mR GE Y W E m m a ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1959 H.M. GREY, JR.. ETAL 2305,

REMOVABLE FRONT FOR STAPLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet2 & s R m Ag W Y V E mm p I .E M w w u N an, i M U .llnd w m W M J B2,905,942 REMOVABLE FRONT non STAPLING MACHINE Application November 15,1956, Serial No. 622,456

8 Claims. or. 1-49 This invention relates to improvements in staplingmachines and more especially to a removable front or face plate for handand power operated staple driving machines.

Heretofore, in staple driving machines, where the staples are drivendown a staple guiding slot or passageway by a plunger, the slot maybecome clogged or jammed because a defective staple becomes wedged inthe slot as it is driven therethrough by the plunger. In order to cleara jammed staple from the staple guiding slot it is usually necessary toremove the face plate covering the staple guiding slot in order to gainaccess to the slot and remove the damaged staple. The face plates onstapling machines are usually held in place to cover the slot orpassageway by screws or bolts. Since jamming is a fairly frequent eventwith most staplers, after repeatedly removing the face plate the headsof the screws or bolts become damaged to the extent that the platecannot be removed again and then the screws or bolts have to bereplaced. When using a staple driving machine in combination with anautomatic machine, for positioning the articles to be stapled, the timelost in removing the face plate and unjamming the slot or passageway inthe stapler can prove a costly and time consuming operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easilyreleasable front or face plate for a stapling machine for quicklyexposing the staple guiding slot through which the staples are driven bythe usual plunger in order to remove jammed staples.

It is another object of this invention to provide an easily removablefront or face plate for a stapling machine Which can be repeatedlyremoved and replaced without damaging the face plate or the linkageholding the face plate in position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of atypical stapling machine with the improved removable front attachedthereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the stapling machine takensubstantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the lower portionof the stapling machine taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially alongthe line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 55 in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the stapler indicated broadly at is shown asbeing a pneumatically operated stapling machine of a conventional type.Although the removable front is shown on this type stapler, it is to beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to this stapler butmay be adapted towork with any stapling machine having a staple guidingpassageway and a plunger for driving staples therethrough. The staplershown includes a handle 11, a trigger 12, an air intake line 13 and anair operated plunger driving head 14 which is provided to drive a stapledriving plunger 15 upon actuation of the trigger 12.

The lower portion of the housing 14 has the upper end of a substantiallyU-shaped staple track supporting member 20 fixed thereto as by screws21. The front end of a suitable staple housing which is in the shape ofa rectangular channel 22 is fixed in the lower end of the U-shaped tracksupporting member 20. The lower por-" tion of the channel 22 supports astaple guide bar 23 (Figure 5) for supporting and guiding a straddlingrow of staples S. The row of staples S are urged forwardly along thestaple guide bar 23 by a follower 25 (Figure 4), the front end of whichengages the rear end of the row of staples S and the rearward end ofwhich has an upstanding portion 27 integral therewith and which extendsto above the channel 22 (Figure l). The upstanding portion 27 ispenetrated by the forward end of a spring guide rod 30, the medialportion of which is surrounded by a compression spring 31. The front endof the compression spring 31 bears against the upstanding portion 27 andthe rear end of the compression spring 31 bears against a rod supportmember 32 to which the rear end of the rod 30 is fixed. The lower end ofthe rod support member 32 is suitably hooked to a transversely extendingplate 33 integral with the staple guiding channel 22. The particularstapler shown is usually provided with a front guide plate 35 suitablysecured to the lower portion of the head member 14 and the U-shapedmember 20 as by respective screws 36 and 37 (Figures 2 and 5). The guideplate 35 is usually provided with a plunger and staple guidingpassageway 40 (Figure 3) for guiding the lower end of the plunger 15 asit drives the staple S into the material being stapled and the front endof the passageway 40 usually acts as a stop for the first of the groupof staples S as they are urged forwardly by the spring 31 and follower25.

In operation of the conventional stapler, upon actuation of the trigger12 compressed air will force the plunger 15 down the pasageway 40 anddrive the leading staple S of the group of staples down the passageway40 and into the material. If there is any defect in the legs of orvariation in thickness of the staple S or should one of the staples S bemoved into the slot 46 in other than an upright position the descendingplunger 15 may cause the staple S to become jammed in the passageway 40and necessitate removing the guide plate 35 to remove the damaged stapleS in order to unjam the passageway of the machine. In order to removethe guide plate 35, it is necessary to remove the screws 36 and 37 togain access to the passageway 40 andthe jammed staple S. Where thestapling machine is used in combination with an automatic articlehandling machine, this removal of the guide plate 35, in order to cleara jam, will cost a loss in production time of the machine and uponrepeated removal of the guide plate 35 the slots or heads of the screws36 and 37 become enlarged to the point that the screws 36 and 37 can nolonger be removed and have to be replaced.

In order to provide an easily and quickly removable front for thestapler in order to gain access to the passageway 40 the guide plate 35has been modified by mill ing a vertically extending slot 42 therein(Figures 2 and 4) which extends substantially the Width of the plunger15 and the staples S. In order to cover the milled slot 42 and extendpartially therein a removable guide plate 45 is provided to partiallycover the guide plate 35 and has a rib 46 integral therewith adapted tofit into the slot 42 in the guide plate 35. Suitable aligning means hasbeen provided for vertically aligning the removable guide Patented Sept.29, .1959

' t 3 plate 45 in the proper position in relationship to the guide plate35 and which aligning means comprises balls 50 suitably embedded in theremovable guide plate 45 and adjacent QPPQ i Q. d. i fli r 11 (F u e thplate 45 'is in proper vertical alignment with the plate 35. he a s w lexte into drilled hole 51 adj cent P- aq t des th l 1 n, e P ate. ,5

' The removable guide plate 45 is held in engagement with the guideplate 35 by an adjustable abutment in the f orm of a threaded bolt 53which is held in adjusted positign by a locking nut 54, The bolt 53 isthreadably mounted in the medial portion of a locking plate 55 one endof which is bifurcated and hinged on the forward sad of, a tati y up t 31 a Th e r end of the arm 57 is suitably secured, as by welding, to the.ide. one L f he U- haped support m r 'ljhe outer or free end of thelocking plate 55 has arm engaging seat or cut-out 56 for reception ofone end at. a l nkin rm 6- e po or e r en i th locking 69 is bifurcatedand pivotally connected as at 61 to the medial portion of a lockinghandle 62 The inner end of the locking handle 6; is pivotally connectedas at 64 to a bifurcated bracket 65 secured to the rear edge of one legof the U-shaped support member 20.

In order to remove the removable guide plate 45 an operator may graspthe handle 62 and move the same to the dotted line position in Figure 4to thereby release the grip of the arm 60 on the locking plate 55 sothat the locking plate 55 may be swung outwardly from the plate 45 tosubstantially the dotted line position shown in Figare. 4 e re e guide pate 45 m t e be Isrnoved from the guide plate 35 to expose thepassageway 40 so that any damaged staples S may be removed, Upon thepassageway 40 being cleared of bent or defective staples S, theremovable guide plate 45 may be again positioned on the guide plate 35so that the balls 50 line tip with the holes 51 in the guide plate 35,swing the locking plate 55 to the solid line position (Figure 4), swingthe free end of the arm 60 into engagement with the seat 56 at the edgeof the locking plate 55 and move the handle 62 from the dotted lineposition to the solid line position {Figure 4) to thus lock the plate 55in position and hold the removable guide plate 45 in fixed relationshipto the guide plate 35.

Although the removable face plate or front 45 is shown and described asbeing an auxiliary or additional plate psed in combination with theconventional guide plate 35, which has been modified, it is to beunderstood that the conventional guide plate 35 could be used withoutmodification by simply not using the screws 36 and 37 holding the guideplate 35 in position with the loclring plate 55, arm 60 and handle 62.If this were done the guide plate 35 would need no modification sincethe pas,- sageway 40 normally extends to the bottom of the guide plate35 and the locking plate 55 and associated linkage could easily be usedto hold the guide plate 35 in position for quick removal upon a jam inthe passageway 40. The guide plate 35 could be provided with pins, ballsor ether aligning means to align the plate 35 with the body of thestapler upon replacement thereof and before looking the same in place bythe locking plate 55, arm 60 and handle 62. i

It is thus seen that we have provided a novel removable front or faceplate which may be quickly and easily removed to expose the stapleguiding passageway in a stapler to facilitate unjarnrning of thepassageway. The removable front is adapted to be used with a largevariety of staplers and will not become damaged after re.- peated use.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope .of the invention being defined in theclaims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a fastener driving device having a head providedwith a fastener receiving and driving passageway, a fastener drivingplunger slidable in said passageway and a fastener supplying magazinefor progressively feeding fasteners to said passageway; a guide platefixedly secured on'said head and having a vertically extending. openingtherein in alignment with said passageway, said'openirig exposin'g saidpassageway through said guide plate, an auxiliary removable guide platecovering said opening in said guide plate, and quick releasable meansfor removal of said auxiliary guide plate to provide access to saidpassageway through said openmg.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary guideplate has an integ ral vertically extending rib projecting therefrom,and said rib being matingly received within the opening in said guideplate for covering said opening.

3. in combination with a stapling machine having a head provided with astaple receiving and driving passage-I way, a staple driving plungerslidable in said passage 'ay and a staple supplying magazine forprogressively feeding staples to said passageway; a removable guideplate ering said passageway, and quick releasable mean's'for removal ofsaid guide plate to provide 'access' to sai d passageway comprising alocking plateengageable with said guide plate and hinged at one side onsaid headf 'a loclting arm engageable with the opposite side ofs'aidlocking plate and a locking handle hinged to said head and connccted tosaid locking arm. i

4. In combination with a stapling machine having a head provided with astaple receiving and driving passage way, a staple driving plungerslidable iri said passageway, a staple supplying magazine forprogressively feeding staples to said passageway'and means in saidheadfo t driving said staple plunger in said passageway to engage thestaple disposed in said passageway; a guide plate on said head, saidguide plate covering said staple' any; ing plunger and having a verticalopening therein iil align ment with said passageway, an auxiliaryremovable giiide plate covering said passageway, quick releasable "meansfor removal of said auxiliary guide plate toprovide" access to saidpassageway comprising alockin'gplat'e' etigageable with said auxiliaryguide plate and'hin'ged at one side on said head, a locking armengageable warmest; posite side of said loclring plate, andado ckiri'ghandle hinged tosaid head and connected to said locking arm.

5. In a stapling machine having a staple driving 'pluiig'ei for drivingstaples into an article, a magazine for progressively feeding thestaples to said plunger andmeans including a face plate forming a throatand throughwhich the staples are driven; the combination therewith" ofmeans forreleasing said face plate to expos s'ai'd throat, saidreleasable means comprising a locking plate hinged at one side to saidstapling machine, an adjustable abutment in said locking plateandengageable with saidface plate, an arm engageable with the free side ofsaid "locking plate and a locking handle hinged at one end to saidstapling machine and atta ched intermediate its ends to said arm, saidhandle being movable to a firstposi'tioh re release said arm, saidlocking plate and said face plate and being movable to a second positionto lock said arm, said locking plate and said face plate. A

6. In a stapling machine having a staple driving plunger for drivingstaples into an article, a magazine for progressively feeding thestaples to said plunger and a face plate having a recess forming athroat therethrough and through which the staples are driven; thecombination therewith of an auxiliary plate removably engaging 'saidface plate and having a vertical rib integral'therewith, said face platehaving an opening therein for reception of said rib on said auxiliaryplate, said rib forming one wall of said throat, means for releasingsaid auxiliary plate to expose said throat, said releasable meansconsprising a locking plate hinged at one side to said stapling machine,an adjustable abutment in said locking plate engageable with saidauxiliary plate, an arm engageable with the free side of said lockingplate and a locking handle hinged at one end to said stapling machineand attached intermediate its ends to said arm, said handle beingmovable to a first position to release said arm, said locking plate andsaid auxiliary plate, and being movable to a second position to locksaid arm, said locking plate and said auxiliary plate.

7. In a fastener driving device having a fastener driving plunger, afastener supplying magazine, and means including a removable guide platedefining a fastener receiving and driving passageway, said plunger beingslidable in said passageway to drive a fastener therefrom and saidmagazine progressively feeding additional fasteners to said passagewayas they are driven therefrom; quick releasable means for removal of saidguide plate to provide access to said passageway, said quick releasablemeans comprising a locking plate engageable with said guide plate andhingedly connected at one side to said fastener driving device, alocking arm engageable with the other side of said locking plate, and alocking handle hingedly connected to said fastener driving device and tosaid locking arm.

8. In a fastener driving device having a fastener driving plunger fordriving fasteners into an article, a fastener supplying magazine forprogressively feeding the fasteners to said plunger, and means includinga removable guide plate forming a fastener receiving passageway throughwhich the fasteners are driven; the combination therewith of means forreleasing said guide plate to expose said passageway, said releasablemeans comprising a locking plate hinged at one side to said fastenerdriving device, an adjustable abutment in said locking plate 'engageablewith said guide plate, an arm engageable with the other side of saidlocking plate and a locking handle hinged at one end to said fastenerdriving device and attached intermediate its ends to said arm, saidhandle being movable to a first position to release said arm, saidlocking plate and said guide plate, and being movable to a secondposition to lock said arm, said locking plate and said guide plate inposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Noticeof Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 90,7 63,involving Patent N 0. 2,905,942, H. M. Grey, Jan, and H. E. Coley,REMOVABLE FRONT FOR S'TAPLING MACHINE, vfinal judgment adverse to thepatente '1 and 2.

@dezfte March 30, 1965.]

es was rendered Aug. 16, 1960, as to claims

